Recommended Accessories - Radio Shack Weather Radio

The old version of Radio Shack's 7 channel
radio. Tech America and Radio Shack were both owned by Tandy
Corp. Tech America is no longer around, so I have one dark gray
version (TA), and one yellow model (RS), as seen in the pictures below.

The new version. Still has all 7 NOAA Weather
Radio Stations, but also has a nice display, and Specific Area Message
Encoding (SAME) feature provides local weather notices. Available
at your local Radio Shack for $49.99, Catalog #12-259.

One of the really dangerous things about camping is
having a storm sneak up on you while you're sleeping. Whether
you're in a tent, Popup, or full sized RV, these are no match for
lightning or tornadoes. In 1988, a rare event happened in
Florida. We had a severe storm create a number of tornadoes.
We are known for lightning and hurricanes, but this was a new experience
for a number of us.

It happened at night. Many people were already in
bed. So how do you stay informed while camping? A weather
radio with an alert feature is the hot ticket. Turn on the radio,
select one of the 7 NOAA weather radio stations (pick the strongest),
then put the radio into the alert mode. When a severe weather
alert is announced, a series of tones are transmitted. These tones
cause the weather radio to squawk. The alarm is loud enough to
wake all but the dead.

The radio can last a week on 3 "AA" batteries
in this mode. It has a low battery light when the cells get low.

Here's a close-up view of my weather radio. Simple to
operate and works extremely well.

I placed adhesive backed hooks near the
ceiling in my Popup camper. From this I'd hang my keys and
the weather radio.

Kissimmee Florida, 1988 - TORNADO!

42 people died from the 9 twisters that night,
10 at the Ponderosa Park Campground.

Lightning - So misunderstood!

A couple of pictures to help kill some myths...
rather than you.

This picture was copied from a presentation
from our 45th Weather Squadron at PAFB. It demonstrates
the Faraday Effect. The high voltage is traveling across
the metal skin of the automobile, and around the person sitting
safely inside. Notice the arc from the wheel to
ground. The rubber tires provide NO PROTECTION. Every
week on a forum, someone is asking about whether their jacks
should be pulled up, or about putting pads under the
jacks. Lighting just traveled a mile through air, a
1/2" thick piece of rubber isn't going to slow it down!

Get into a structure if available. If
not, get into a vehicle with a metal body. Getting into a
convertible with a soft top won't do you any good either.

If rubber actually provided some protection
from lightning, anyone wearing sneakers would be protected,
right?

Mother Nature plays by her own rules.
The myth about lighting always hits the tallest object just
isn't true. 50' away from a metal light pole, lightning
hits the ground. I've witnessed similar events. It
will take the path of least resistance, but sometimes that's an
ionized column of air near something it "should have
hit".

If a severe storm is heading your way, you have a choice
to make. Stay in your tent/camper, or find a structure. Your
call. Make the wrong choice, you may end up losing your
life. I know it's an aggravation having to leave the comfort of
the camper and go stand in bath house or Laundromat until the storm
passes. Been there, done that. Just not worth the risk
staying to me. Buy a weather radio, take the necessary
precautions, live to camp another day.